USC School of Dramatic Arts

(formerly known as the School of Theatre)

The USC School of Dramatic Arts took a page from the Western canon with a 2011-2012 season of literary adaptations of works by Jane Austen, Ivan Turgenev, George Bernard Shaw and James Joyce. From left, BFA students Keelin Woodell and Bryce McBratnie play aristocrats behaving badly in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, an adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ 18th century novel of revenge.

One of the premier dramatic arts schools in the United States, the USC School of Dramatic Arts provides the necessary education and training for graduates to excel in the professional arts and related fields, providing an ideal foundation to a liberal education that prepares students for a wide range of career interests. The school promotes and supports innovative and flexible ways to achieve students’ educational and professional goals.

The dramatic arts are both a collaborative endeavor and a universal means of communication. The school educates students in the history of theatre, while preparing them to add to that history, to use their talents, skill and imagination to explore the limitless possibilities the dramatic arts offer.

The USC School of Dramatic Arts is significantly enhanced by its location in Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world. Theatre professionals frequently teach seminars, mentor students and participate in School of Dramatic Arts productions.

Graduates of the school work professionally in all aspects of theatre, film and television. The school’s performance and design faculty are dynamic teachers who also regularly work in the theatre and entertainment industry.

The breadth of learning opportunities offered at the school prepares students for the spectrum of careers in the professional theatre, including performance, production, design, sound design, management and teaching. The School of Dramatic Arts also strives to instill confidence, integrity, excellence and artistic sensitivity into each of its students — traits that are essential to success in any field.